Golf game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A lawn golf game playable with ordinary golf clubs and balls or wiffle balls on any reasonable size lawn area in leisure time by individuals or competitive teams which requires all the skill of conventional golf. Receptacles are located in a predetermined pattern or course above ground for receiving the golf ball. Each receptacle is cylindrically shaped and includes one closed end, one open end for receiving a ball, a lip extension for facilitating the entry of a ball into the receptacle, a conical projection adjacent the open end for anchoring the receptacle in place, and a post at the closed end for supporting an identifying flag and anchoring the receptacle in place.

llnited States Patent lurnari et a1.

[451 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] GOLF GAME APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Peter C.lFurnarl, 9 Maple Ave., Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 12590; Samuel F. Furnarl,183 Glascoe Ave., Staten Island, N.Y. 10314 [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1970 21Appl. No.: 30,825

[52] 0.8. CI. ..273/l76 AA, 273/178 R [51] int. Cl. ..A63h 67/02 [58]Field of Search l ..273/176, 177,178, 179, 180, 273/127, 183, 184, 185,105, 181, 100, 104, 56, 115,116,102.4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,437 2/1919 1,542,0636/1925 2,666,642 1/1954 3,464,697 9/1969 3,310,313 3/1967 CoIson..273/180 3,451,682 6/1969 Trimble ..273/l84 A X Primary Examiner-GeorgeJ. Marlo Attorney-John F. Ostemdorf 57] ABSTRACT A lawn golf gameplayable with ordinary golf clubs and balls or wiffle balls on anyreasonable size lawn area in leisure time by individuals or competitiveteams which requires all the skill of conventional golf. Receptacles arelocated in a predetermined pattern or course above ground for receivingthe golf ball. Each receptacle is cylindrically shaped and includes oneclosed end, one open end for receiving a ball, a lip extension forfacilitating the entry of a ball into the receptacle, a conicalprojection adjacent the open end for anchoring the receptacle in place,and a post at the closed end for supporting an identifying flag andanchoring the receptacle in place.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEnmze I972 FIGJ FIG.4

INVENTORS PETER C. FURNARI SAMUEL F. FURNARI GOLF GAME APPARATUSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a lawn golf game, and, more particularly, to a golf gameplayed with conventional golf clubs and balls or wiffle type balls on anordinary lawn using receptacles fixedly located in a predeterminedcourse in the ground but mounted above it.

2. Description of the Prior Art Lawn and miniature golf games are wellknown. All of them require the traversal of a defined course and may useconventional golf clubs and balls or adaptations of such clubs andballs.

Some of these games are patterned after the game croquet using uprightstakes, wickets and U-shaped bridge members as obstacles or goals whichmust be achieved. Other such games use receptacles but in all instancesthe receptacles are recessed in the ground.

None of the lawn golf games known in the prior art can be played usingsolely the instruments and rules of conventional golf and withoutrequiring the permanent alteration or destruction ofa lawn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As contrasted with the prior art types of lawngolf games, the apparatus and game of the invention is played on anordinary lawn using conventional golf clubs, balls and rules and withoutrequiring the alternation or destruction of a garden lawn. Wiffle typeballs may be employed in place of conventional golf balls. Specificreceptacles are utilized having identifying flags removably mounted onthem. The-receptacles and flags are provided with suitable projectionsfor insertion into the ground. In this way the receptacle and flag unitsare-fixedly located at desired positions. The receptacles with differingidentifying indicia are arranged in a desired pattern or course having aplurality of stations on and above an ordinaryl'awn by inserting theprojections into the ground.

Usingconventional golf clubs and balls or wiffle balls, the lawn golfgame may be played by individuals or competing teams. Each player movesfrom receptacle to receptacle after causing his ball to enter thereceptacle at the previous station. Individual and/or team scores aremaintained as to the'number of strokes required by each player or teamto completethe course.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1. is a diagram of a typicalarrangement'orrcourse for. playing the game of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially in section of a receptacle andidentifying flag unit as mounted in the ground; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views of the rear and front'faces'of' thereceptacle, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, thelawn golf gameaccording to the-invention may be played on any gardenlawn. A.plurality.

of receptacles to be described more fully hereinafter are arranged in atypical pattern such as'atthe stations l-9: Each station includes thereceptacle unit receiving the ball and a tee for the next stationproximately positioned near'it.

As in conventional golf, the players begin at the first station or teeand proceed from station to station with the object of.

game of golf with a minimum of nine receptacles. Two or three ordinarygolf irons are all that are required for each player. Regulation golfballs may be used. Alternatively, wiffle type balls may be employed inplaying the game. In either case, the balls may be color coded tofacilitate identification.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the receptacle according to the invention isgenerally indicated at 10. It is cylindrical in shape and is providedwith an opening 11 (FIG. 4) at one end that is at least as large as thediameter of the ball. Preferably this opening is approximately 1% timesthe diameter of an ordina ry golf ball. Receptacle 10 is mounted on thesurface 12 of the ground. A projection 13 having a conical shape isprovided for insertion into the ground and for locating the receptacleat a particular location or station on the course. To facilitate theentry of the ball into the receptacle an entrance lip or projection 14is provided at the front end of the receptacle.

Receptacle 10 may be formed of a molded plastic material such thatprojection 13 and entrance lip 14 are formed as an integral part of theunit. Alternately, the receptacle may be metallic and have projection 13affixed to it by suitable rivet elements or by welding or other means.Receptacle 10 has a length approximating 6 inches.

As shown in FIG. 3, receptacle 10 is-provided with a screw projection 15through its rear wall 16. Screw projection 15 is provided to accommodatean identifying indicium or flag 18 carried by a post 17. Post 17 isprovided with a suitable conically shaped projection 19 for insertioninto the ground. By employing the two projections 13 and 19 from thereceptacle and from the post, assurance is provided that the position ofthe receptacle is not altered once fixed.

Post 17 is slotted at 20 to accept screw 15 extending. through wall 16of the receptacle and. to provide vertical adjustment at a desiredheight for insertion into the ground. Locking of the post to the rearwall 16 of the receptacle is accomplished with a nut 21.

Flag 18 is shown as having a pennant shape. As is readily apparent theidentifying indicium may take any of several forms being triangular orsquare-shaped mounted to post 17-. The flag may also be formed of arigid plastic or metallic material or it may be'made from a cloth-likematerialto permit movement.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreferenceto a preferred'embodiment thereof, itwillbe understood by thoseskilled in the art that theforegoingand other changes in form anddetails may lie-made therein without departing fromthespirit and scopeof theinvention.

What is claimed is: I

1. Apparatus for use in'playing a golf game on aplayingsurface withordinary golf balls orwiffle type balls, comprising:

a cylindrical shaped receptacle,

said receptacle being closed atone end. and open at the other'end toreceive a ball, and

a substantially-conically shaped projection fixed to a portion ofthesurface along the length of said receptacle andiex' tending'outwardlyfrom said surface for insertion into the playing surface, saidreceptacle beingfixedlylocatedand in contact along saidrportion'ata:positionaboveandon theplaying surface when said projectionis-inserted'into theplaying surface, and

an entrance lipextending from the sameportion of'the'surface. of thereceptacle as the projection andat the'open end of said receptacle forfacilitating the entry of a ball into the receptacle. 2; The apparatusofclaiml, and further'comprising-a post movably mounted to theclosed endofsaid receptacle and an identifying indicium'mounted to said post;

3. The apparatus of 'claim -2, andfurther 'comprisingza'isub stantiallyconically shaped projection extending from said post for insertion intothe playing surface to fixedly-locate the post.

4.'.A golf game playable with conventional golf clubs and ballsor'wiffletypeballs on a lawn, comprising a playing .'sur= face;

a plurality of diversely located stationsarranged in a progressivepredetermined pattern on said surface, each" of said stations having areceptacle for receiving a'ball' when directed at it,

from the same portion of the surface of the receptacle as the projectionand at the open end of said receptacle for facilitating the entry of aball into the receptacle.

5. The game of claim 4, wherein each of said receptacles furthercomprises a post movably mounted to the closed end of the receptacle ina direction perpendicular to the playing surface, an identifyingindicium mounted to said post, and a substantially conically shapedprojection extending from said post into the playing surface.

1. Apparatus for use in playing a golf game on a playing surface withordinary golf balls or wiffle type balls, comprising: a cylindricallyshaped receptacle, sAid receptacle being closed at one end and open atthe other end to receive a ball, and a substantially conically shapedprojection fixed to a portion of the surface along the length of saidreceptacle and extending outwardly from said surface for insertion intothe playing surface, said receptacle being fixedly located and incontact along said portion at a position above and on the playingsurface when said projection is inserted into the playing surface, andan entrance lip extending from the same portion of the surface of thereceptacle as the projection and at the open end of said receptacle forfacilitating the entry of a ball into the receptacle.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, and further comprising a post movably mounted to the closedend of said receptacle and an identifying indicium mounted to said post.3. The apparatus of claim 2, and further comprising a substantiallyconically shaped projection extending from said post for insertion intothe playing surface to fixedly locate the post.
 4. A golf game playablewith conventional golf clubs and balls or wiffle type balls on a lawn,comprising a playing surface a plurality of diversely located stationsarranged in a progressive predetermined pattern on said surface, each ofsaid stations having a receptacle for receiving a ball when directed atit, each of said receptacles being characterized by being cylindricallyshaped, said receptacles each being closed at one end and open at theother end to receive a ball, each of said receptacles including asubstantially conically shaped projection fixed to a portion of itssurface along its length and extending outwardly from said surface intosaid playing surface, said receptacles being fixedly located and incontact along said portion above and on said playing surface at thediverse locations of said predetermined pattern, and each of saidreceptacles including an entrance lip extending from the same portion ofthe surface of the receptacle as the projection and at the open end ofsaid receptacle for facilitating the entry of a ball into thereceptacle.
 5. The game of claim 4, wherein each of said receptaclesfurther comprises a post movably mounted to the closed end of thereceptacle in a direction perpendicular to the playing surface, anidentifying indicium mounted to said post, and a substantially conicallyshaped projection extending from said post into the playing surface.